BBC addresses Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The BBC reported from one of NKR Defense Army artillery positions. Speaking to Vladimir Mkrtichyan, the BBC team showed the soldier’s view from the frontline.

“I feel a great responsibility during war. A tiny mistake can result in missing the target by 10 to 15 kilometres. For me it doesn’t matter that the Nagorno-Karabakh republic is not recognized. We are fighting for our land,” said Mkrtichyan.

My name is Vladimir Mkrtchian. I was born in August 1997. I was drafted 2 months ago, on the front line for one week. From my first day here the situation got tense. There is a saying in Russian ‘’Artillery is the god of war’’. This is the artillery here. I aim the gun. I fire at the coordinates based on the angle and height I am given. Last week we were training by the canons when the shell fell not far from us. We were in a state of disorder in the first 10-15 minutes. But then we pulled ourselves together and fired back. I feel great responsibility during war. A tiny mistake can result in missing the target by 10 to 15 kilometers. You can hit your own position if you are not accurate.

This stove keeps us warm. It is our salvation because it is very cold at night.

This is where we sleep though we don’t sleep much. Every two hours we switch. The average age of soldiers is 18 to 19. We know that there are boys of our age standing there. They are people like us but these are things that you don’t want to think about during war.

For me it doesn’t matter that the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is not recognized. We are fighting for our land.